This interesting collection includes most of the tracks tenor saxophonist
Gene Ammons recorded for Chess and its related labels in the early '50s ("My Foolish Heart" was actually the very first side Chess ever issued) along with a four-song session for Decca Records from 1952. Fans of his later work, when he merged bebop and R&B into what eventually became known as soul-jazz, may be somewhat disappointed by this set, but these tracks really shouldn't be missed. Although
Ammons gets into solid bop territory with pieces like "Beezy," the best selections here are the ballads, and "Goodbye," "You Go to My Head," and the title track all exhibit the huge, soulful tone that was
Ammons' trademark. This disc may be somewhat hard to find, but two official Chess releases,
Early Visions and
Young Jug, cover the same territory.